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Here come the Normans...

and other images of the day, selected by Deputy Picture Editor Laura Hutton

Mon 8 Apr 2019

THE NORMANS RETURN: May 2019 marks the 850th anniversary of the arrival of the Normans in Ireland on the beach at Bannow in Co Wexford. A year-long programme of public events including recreations of historical events is to take in New Ross, Wexford town, Ferns and Enniscorthy to mark the anniversary. Photograph: Patrick Browne

A WATCHFUL EYE: Dublin Zoo has announced the birth of a baby gorilla, born on April 1st to first-time mother Kafi and father Bangui. Keepers have so far been unable to determine the gender of the infant as Kafi has been keeping the baby close to her chest. Photograph: Patrick Bolger

HIGH TEA: Chief EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier is served tea by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Government Buildings. Mr Barnier is in Ireland for talks ahead of Wednesday's European Council meeting at which it will be decided whether the UK will be granted a further Brexit extension. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty

BOOKISH FOLK: At the launch of the 22nd International Literature Festival Dublin were Simi Shanu (10) and Jamie Bluett (8), with outsized books. The festival runs from May 17th to 26th next. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

KHARTOUM UNREST: Thousands of protesters rally in front of a military headquarters in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, calling for President Omar al-Bashir's resignation. Riot police reportedly fired tear gas at the demonstrators, but soldiers acted to protect them, witnesses said. Photograph: AFP

LIBYA CONFLICT RETURNS: Members of the regular Libyan armed forces from Misrata prepare for battle at the front line in Tripoli against the Libyan National Army forces of Khalifa Haftar, a former general in Muammar Gadafy's military. Photograph: Hani Amara/Reuters

SYRIAN EXODUS: Syrian children watch from a bus as they wait to return from Bourj Hammoud, in Beirut, Lebanon, to Syria. Hundreds of Syrian refugees have begun to travel home from different parts of Lebanon. The Lebanese government estimates some 1.5 million Syrians live in the country. Photograph: Nabil Mounzer/EPA

CELEBRATING THE GODDESS: Married women take part in the Gangaur festival in Udaipur, Rajasthan state, India. During the festival, married women worship the Hindu goddess Gauri, consort of the deity Shiva. Photograph: Himanshu Sharma/AFP

ANCIENT WAYS: Women dressed in historical costume make their way to a photo session marking the start of the asparagus-hasvesting season in Beelitz, eastern Germany. Photograph: Ralf Hirschberger/dpa/AFP

MIRROR IMAGE: A dancer with the Victor Ullate Ballet Company performs during a show marking the 30th anniversary of the company's foundation in Pamplona, Navarra, northern Spain. Photograph: Jesus Diges/EPA